Flexible grips

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a flexible grip for use in weightlifting and weight bearing exercises. More particularly, the flexible grips herein mold to a user&#39;s hands and enable secure grip of weights, bars with weights and bars for pulling or lifting.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a flexible grip for use in weight lifting. Moreparticularly, the flexible grips herein mold to a user's hands andenable secure grip of weights, bars with weights and bars for pulling orlifting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Weight bearing exercise has been known from the time of antiquity toincrease strength, stamina, bone density and life itself. As long asmankind has existed, the drive to become stronger and bigger has pushedmen and women to create many and varied strength training regimentsinvolving the use of weights. Ancient societies including the Egyptians,Greeks, Romans and more documented their exercise regimes includingweight lifting.

As exercise science has advanced, innovators have sought ways to bothimprove exercise maximizing efficiency and also protect exercisers intheir workouts. Weight lifting in particular is known to be rough on thehands and joints. Callouses often occur when gripping bars and weightsthat are heavy. Callouses on the hand are a natural response to protectkey pressure points on the inside of an exercisers hands hear the baseof her fingers.

In modern times, exercisers use all manner of devices to protect theirhands while lifting weights. For example, exercisers know the benefitsof using gloves to lift weights. Exercisers have even used various kindsof grips to lift, in particular, heavy weights.

Use of such devices has been important both to preserve one's hands butalso to increase safety while lifting weights. Whether by glove or grip,protecting one's hands while also providing better grip when lifting isimportant. What remains, however, is the production of a grip thatprovides maximum protection to an exerciser's hands while also givingoptimal safe usage while lifting weights. The embodiments hereindescribe such a useful grip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention provides a flexible grip for grasping acylindrical object for lifting weights that comprises a hand sectionhaving a hand side and a grip side positioned oppositely to the handside. The hand side of the hand section also comprises a palm sectionand a finger section connected to and extending from the palm section.The palm section covers substantially all of a user's palm.

The grip herein further comprises a securing portion positionedoppositely to the strap portion. The strap portion is securable to thesecuring portion about the wrist of a user. That is, the strap portionherein wraps, preferably, at least two times about a user's wrist.Further, the strap portion herein has a wrapping portion positionedabout the securing portion. In practice, the grip herein providessubstantially full coverage to a user's palm and fingers when the userwears it and curls the grip around a cylindrical object connected to aweight.

The grip's finger section herein substantially covers all of a user'sfingers when the grip is in a pre-grip position. Also, the fingersection substantially covers all of a user's fingers when the grip is ina post-grip position. In a preferred embodiment herein, the fingersection fully covers all of a user's fingers when the grip is in apost-grip position.

In another embodiment of the invention herein, the grip's finger sectioncomprises an additional grip portion for gripping a cylindrical objectconnected to a weight or that is itself a weight. The additional gripportion provides an even more secure grip for a user when a weight orweighted object is grasped and lifted by the user.

In a preferred embodiment of the grip herein, the grip side of the handsection comprises a gripping surface. The gripping surface increasesgrip-ability of the grip to a cylindrical object connected to a weight.

In best practice herein, the grip's strap portion and securing portionuses a hook and loop mechanism to effect attachment of the strap portionto the securing portion. Additional attachment means that are well knownby persons of skill in the art are also useful. When applied, thesecuring portion braces and supports the wrist of said wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, which willbecome more apparent as the description proceeds, are described in thefollowing detailed description in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a two-dimensional view of the grip positioned onto the frontside of a user herein;

FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of a user's hand cupping the grip ofFIG. 1 herein;

FIG. 3 is a two-dimensional view of a user's hand covering the grip ofFIG. 1 herein;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a user in a squatted position behind abar using the grips herein in preparation for a dead lift maneuver; and

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a user's hand cupping the grip ofFIG. 1 herein while also holding a bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a flexible grip for grasping a cylindrical objectfor lifting weights that comprises a hand section having a hand side anda grip side positioned oppositely to the hand side. The hand side of thehand section also comprises a palm section and a finger sectionconnected to and extending from the palm section. The palm sectioncovers substantially all of a user's palm.

The grip herein further comprises a securing portion positionedoppositely to the strap portion. The strap portion is securable to thesecuring portion about the wrist of a user. That is, the strap portionherein wraps, preferably, at least two times about a user's wrist.Further, the strap portion herein has a wrapping portion positionedabout the securing portion. In practice, the grip herein providessubstantially full coverage to a user's palm and fingers when the userwears it and curls the grip around a cylindrical object connected to aweight.

The grip's finger section herein substantially covers all of a user'sfingers when the grip is in a pre-grip position. Also, the fingersection substantially covers all of a user's fingers when the grip is ina post-grip position. In a preferred embodiment herein, the fingersection fully covers all of a user's fingers when the grip is in apost-grip position.

In another embodiment of the invention herein, the grip's finger sectioncomprises an additional grip portion for gripping a cylindrical objectconnected to a weight or that is itself a weight. The additional gripportion provides an even more secure grip for a user when a weight orweighted object is grasped and lifted by the user.

In a preferred embodiment of the grip herein, the grip side of the handsection comprises a gripping surface. The gripping surface increasesgrip-ability of the grip to a cylindrical object connected to a weight.

In best practice herein, the grip's strap portion and securing portionuses a hook and loop mechanism to effect attachment of the strap portionto the securing portion. Additional attachment means that are well knownby persons of skill in the art are also useful. When applied, thesecuring portion braces and supports the wrist of said wearer.

FIG. 1 is a two-dimensional view of grip 10 positioned onto the frontside of a user's hand 5 herein. As is shown, hand side 20 of grip 10directly covers and is adjacent to the palm of user's hand 5. As seen,grip 10 is divided into three major portions: finger section 25; palmsection 27; and securing portion 40.

Finger section 25 is held adjacent to a user's fingers on hand 5 and ismeant to cover a substantial portion thereof. Full coverage of thefingers can occur, depending upon the size of hand 5, but it notnecessary when grip 10 is in its straight, uncovered position. Atcurvature of grip 5 (i.e., when a user grips the bar of a weight or aweight itself), finger section 25 is configured to curve into a user'sfingers and thereby provide full coverage or substantially full coverageof the user's fingers against a lifted weight.

Preferably, there is a provided additional grip portion 29 to fingersection 25. Additional grip portion 29 protrudes from grip side 30 ofgrip 10. Additional grip portion 29 is configured to enable added gripability to a bar or weight sought to be lifted.

Hand side 20 of palm section 27 rests upon the palm of hand 5. Itsubstantially covers the palm side of user's hand 5. Whether hand 5 isopen or curved, palm section 27 assumes the shape of whatever it holds.Thus, it as well as finger section 25 are pliable. This pliability isimportant because it aids in grip, enables use by hand 5 and does notrestrict mobility of hand 5.

Securing portion 40 secures, literally, grip 10 to user's hand 5.Preferably, it comprises strap portion 45 which is configured to wraparound a user's wrist thereby serving to anchor the remainder of grip 10(i.e., palm section 27 and finger section 25) to hand 5. In practice,strap portion 45 maintains a firm connection of grip 10 to a userthereby enabling full and unfettered use of grip 10 without fear ofdisplacement or of it falling off.

FIG. 2 provides a perspective side view of a user's hand cupping grip10. This is grip 10 of FIG. 1 herein. As noted hereinabove, fingersection 25 and palm section 27 are curvable and configurable within auser's curved hand 5. This is an important and necessary feature. Thisfeature enables contoured use of grip 10 so that the maximum surfacearea of user's hand 5 can be used. If grip 10 could not be contoured,grip 10 would be much less effective and less useful for multiple kindsof athletic and weight bearing exercises.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a user's hand covering grip 10 of FIG. 1herein. It provides of the reverse side of FIG. 1. Clearly shown are thetop side of hand 5 with the palm not shown and securing portion wrappedaround a user's wrist. In such wrapping, strap portion 45, which is thepreferred but not only, securing device for grip 10 is clearly shownsecured to the user's wrist. Persons of skill in the art will readilyrecognize the form and components of the preferred securing portion 40herein and also recognize many of the variations thereof.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of user 50 in a squatted position behindbar 100 using grips 10 herein in preparation for a dead lift maneuver.As shown, grips 10 are firmly and securely attached to user 50′s wrists.In his crouched position, user 50 is preparing to make the standard,well-known dead lift of the bar and weights 100 shown. Herein, grips 10ensure that he does not lose grip of the bar and that his wrists remainin the position necessary to lift weights 100. Such proper liftingtechnique as enabled by grips 10 also helps to reduce injury to user 50.This is especially true for high weight lifts and motions as the oneshown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a user 50′s hand 5 cupping grip 10of FIG. 1 herein while also holding bar 100 of FIG. 4. As shown, grip 10is fully contoured within hand 5 and therefore allows maxim surface areaacquisition of the bar of weight 100. Such extensive and effective gripability enables hand 5 a proper and full grip and increases a user'ssafety from injury during weight bearing exercises and lifts, especiallyheavy lifts.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the inventionis defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur tothose skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be withinthe scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do notdiffer from the literal language of the claims, or if they includeequivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from theliteral language of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flexible grip for grasping a cylindrical objectfor lifting weights, comprising: a. A hand section having a hand sideand a grip side positioned oppositely to said hand side, said hand sideof said hand section also comprising a palm section and a fingersection, said palm section covering substantially all of the palm of auser, said finger section extending from said palm section; b. Asecuring portion positioned oppositely to said strap portion, said strapportion being securable to said securing portion about the wrist of auser; and c. A strap portion connected to said hand section, said strapportion having a wrapping portion about said securing portion, Said gripproviding substantially full coverage to a user's palm and fingers whensaid user wears said grip and curls said grip to grab a cylindricalobject connected to a weight.
 2. The grip of claim 1 wherein said fingersection substantially covers all of a user's fingers when said grip isin a pre-grip position.
 3. The grip of claim 2 wherein said fingersection substantially covers all of a user's fingers when said grip isin a post-grip position.
 4. The grip of claim 3 wherein said fingersection fully covers all of a user's fingers when said grip is in apost-grip position.
 5. The grip of claim 1 wherein said finger sectionfurther comprises an additional grip portion for gripping saidcylindrical object connected to said weight.
 6. The grip of claim 1wherein said grip side of said hand section comprises a grippingsurface.
 7. The grip of claim 6 wherein said gripping surface increasesgrip-ability of said grip to a said cylindrical object connected to asaid weight.
 8. The grip of claim 1 wherein said strap portion and saidsecuring portion use a hook and loop mechanism to effect attachment ofsaid strap portion to said securing portion.
 9. The grip of claim 1wherein said securing portion braces and supports the wrist of saidwearer.